03/11/2025

What I Wish Managers Knew about Neurodiversity

Neurodiverse team members can be an asset

Neurodiversity (which includes ADHD, autism, dyscalculia and dyslexia) is a massive strength in the workplace. It’s well-documented that neurodivergent employees offer so many positive skills, such as creativity, innovation, information processing and focus. Having neurodiverse minds within a company gives a fresh perspective, a new way of thinking and, often, a competitive advantage.

The problem lies in that too many managers and business owners see neurodiversity as a problem, which is pure ignorance built on old-fashioned stigmas and stereotypes. Yes, accommodating neurodiversity in the workplace can present some challenges. Still, these are overwhelmingly outweighed by the positives that neurodiverse people bring to a company — do 30% higher profit margins and double net revenue sound good to you? 

One of the problems is that the “normal” way of working isn’t always aligned with the conditions that neurodiverse people need in order to thrive. Thirty-six percent of neurodivergent employees say that they haven’t had any guidance or support at work. Managers aren’t given the information they need to help neurodiverse team members, either — a 2023 survey showed that only 28 percent of managers have had neurodiversity training.

Please select this link to read the complete article from SmartBrief.